Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Castle in Chaos
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***
Thud thud thud thud thud—
“What’s that noise?”
“Doesn’t it feel like the ground is shaking?”
“It sounds like something’s coming…”
The soldiers patrolling the walls tilted their heads and looked around.
“Monsters!”
“Monsters have appeared!”
Shouts from the soldiers echoed as the emergency horns blared.
Bwoooong—
The territory residents, jolted awake by the horns, were bewildered by the chaotic atmosphere.
“What’s going on?”
“I was dozing off too, so I don’t know.”
“Mommy, I’m scared…”
“Sniff, sob, Daddy…”
As children whimpered in fear, the soldiers’ cries rang through the castle.
“Monsters have appeared!”
“Gasp!”
Eyes widened in shock.
Monsters occasionally appeared in the territory.
Each time, they caused massive casualties—not just to people, but to crops as well.
“H-how…”
“We’re safe inside the castle.”
“The knights will protect us.”
As terrified people comforted each other to overcome their fear,
Boom!
Something inside shattered with a crash.
“Wh-what was that…?”
People stared toward the sound and began standing up one by one.
Rumble rumble rumble—
The ground shook like an earthquake, and a group charged in with ferocious momentum.
Those who saw them screamed in horror.
“Argh!”
“It’s monsters!”
They were “Yubesto”—monsters with lion faces and bull bodies.
Native to the Nanshar Empire, they were extremely vicious, requiring three or four knights to subdue even one.
And over ten of them had appeared.
“Knights!”
“Run!”
People scrambled for cover, turning the once-quiet place into pandemonium.
“Aaah!”
“Spare me!”
The Yubesto charged straight ahead, goring or biting anything in their path with the horns on their heads.
Crash!
“Aaaah!”
“Argh!”
Screams erupted everywhere.
But the thousands of soldiers were too busy fending off monsters scaling the walls.
Outside, packs of Yubesto battered the gates relentlessly.
Boom! Boom boom!
“Where are they all coming from!”
“Hold them off somehow!”
“If the castle falls, we’re all dead!”
As soldiers desperately fired arrows and thrust spears,
Kwaaang—
Craaaack—
A massive vibration shook the inner castle, accompanied by the sound of walls crumbling.
Some soldiers paused their attacks on the monsters and turned around.
“What the hell are those!”
No one knew how the Yubesto had gotten inside, but they rampaged through.
People were gored, trampled, or torn apart, dying one after another.
It was a true hellscape.
“Argh!”
Roooar!
Unprecedented monsters climbed the walls one by one, unleashing attacks.
Soldiers fell to their assaults, and once the defensive line broke, monsters surged up in an instant.
“Aaah!”
“Save me!”
“Argh!”
Desperate screams from soldiers filled the air from all directions, the walls staining red with blood.
The scene below the walls was no different.
Keda, surveying the castle’s situation, was baffled by the sudden Yubesto horde.
“Where did these bastards come from!”
But he only saw about ten.
Yubesto always appeared in massive groups.
He suspected more lurked nearby when—
Kwaaang—
Boom!
Something outside hammered the gates with immense force.
That was them.
But how had some gotten inside?
Puzzled, he decided to deal with the ones within first.
Keda infused his sword with spirit power.
Each swing unleashed wind-enhanced aura that streaked like lightning, piercing Yubesto throats.
Thud—
As Keda cleared the rampaging Yubesto inside,
“Keda!”
“…!”
Keda whipped his head to the side.
Arthur burst out of a building and shouted again.
“Everyone, get out of the castle!”
“What?”
“The underground explosive barrier has been triggered!”
“…!”
Keda’s eyes widened.
Whatever had happened, to save all these people, they needed to open the gates first.
He sprinted toward them, yelling.
“Get out of the way!”
Soldiers forming a shield wall in anticipation of a breach grimaced upon spotting Keda.
“It’s the enemy! Kill him!”
Several charged at Keda, swinging swords.
Keda subdued them effortlessly and shouted at the soldiers.
“The castle’s about to explode! Open the gates now!”
“What nonsense!”
“Why would a perfectly fine castle explode!”
As soldiers bared killing intent and lunged,
Kwaaang—
One gate ripped free, flying into the air and crashing down on the soldiers.
“Dodge!”
Soldiers scattered left and right.
Keda glared at the falling gate and cried out.
“In the name of the noble Parsia! Protect me from danger!”
A sudden gale blew, hurling the gate away.
The soldiers watching gaped in shock, one yelling.
“The wind spirit!”
Another, with a confused expression, added.
“A knight of the Alpha Family…”
Only then did the soldiers recall the Alpha Family, branded devil worshippers years ago.
Some seemed to recognize Keda.
“How are you…!”
“If you want to live, follow me!”
Keda charged at Yubesto passing through the gates, swinging his sword.
Aura turned into countless daggers, embedding in their vitals.
Awed by his strength in wiping out the pack in one strike, the soldiers unwittingly followed.
They decided to escape the situation first.
“Take the residents with you!”
Soldiers led residents out of the castle.
Keda, leading the way out, gaped at the horde of monsters swarming.
“Ah…”
It was beyond what he could handle alone.
The following soldiers and residents froze like statues at the sight.
Monsters drooled at the fresh prey and charged.
Roooar!
Rooaaar!
Their roars sent chills through everyone.
Keda swung his sword ceaselessly, battling them.
But one against so many was impossible.
Outnumbered, he fell back bit by bit, barely defending.
Even the wind spirit joined the fight, but it wasn’t enough.
He could only hold vital points.
“Your Majesty… what are you doing…?”
***
“Get out!”
Arthur kept shouting for people to head outside.
Unfamiliar monsters lay slain everywhere, and those on the walls began descending.
No more screams from the walls meant everyone up there was likely dead.
“Damn it!”
Worse, crowds jammed the gates, blocking escape.
“Hurry up and go!”
“How can we when the front won’t move!”
“Then the people behind should just die?!”
As tempers flared, one spoke in a terrified voice.
“Th-there are too many monsters outside… We’ll all die if we go out.”
“What?!”
Panic gripped the crowd.
Arthur had been counting silently since escaping the underground.
‘201, 202, 203…’
Tamusha had said an explosive barrier was set underground. It would activate automatically if the castle took enemy attacks, exploding ten minutes later.
Right after he spoke, a massive shock hit even underground, triggering it.
Arthur had blasted it with Cremoa before fleeing.
With the barrier active, anything tied to the Demon King was safely handled.
But the monsters were the problem.
He hadn’t expected this many.
When Tamusha said “if the castle is attacked by enemies,” Arthur wondered who would attack.
Monsters, of all things.
Now, less than 400 seconds remained.
Evacuating everyone in time was practically impossible.
Still, he’d do his utmost.
Arthur summoned K1 rifles in both hands and unleashed on the monsters mercilessly.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat—
Aura bullets glowed brightly as they flew.
Empowered by the Demon King, the monsters shrugged off even Nigras’s power.
But he worried about outside.
Keda was likely facing them alone—not easy.
Arthur kept firing, calling Parsia.
-What is it?
“I know it’s against the rules, but help Keda.”
-I’m sorry, but I can’t.
“You’d let him die alone to monsters?!”
-The spirit children are doing their best. His power can’t summon me.
“Damn it! We’re trapped!”
Arthur scowled in frustration.
He poured attacks on the endless monster rush.
“We’ll all die like this.”
Thinking of a way out, he recalled Parsia’s past words.
“Is it still valid that the spirits want to meet me?”
-They’re ready anytime.
“Then call them now.”
-Now?
“No chatter—summon them!”
-Alright.
Moments later,
Fist-sized orbs of red and earthen light appeared before Arthur.
-We wanted to meet you.
-State why you called us.
The spirits’ voices resonated in his mind.
He glanced at the floating orbs, fought monsters, and thought back.
‘Wasn’t it you who wanted to see me?’
-True.
-We awaited only the successor of Teheran’s legacy.
‘As you see, the situation’s dire. If you want to talk, help out.’
-We’re open to simple requests.
-Me too.
‘Then handle the monsters outside. It’ll save more lives.’
-What do you mean? Save more lives?
Doubt dripped from Salamander, the top fire spirit’s voice.
‘Hurry—this place will explode soon!’
-Hm, lives are at stake, so I’ll grant it. Earth, will you join?
Earth, the top earth spirit, paused thoughtfully before replying.
-I can’t grant requests from non-contracted ones. But for mid-realm order, I’ll make an exception.
‘Decided? Move! Hurry!’
At Arthur’s urging, the orbs vanished. Outside, roars and monster screams erupted with thunderous booms.
Boom! Kwa-boom!
The spirits had counterattacked. Monsters roared ferociously in response.
Roooar!
Rooaaar!
Half the monsters charging Arthur veered toward the spirits.
It eased the pressure, letting him cover fleeing people.
Time had exceeded 500 seconds.
“Damn! Parsia!”
The noble, haughty figure of Parsia appeared.
-Speak.
“Block the explosion. Don’t just protect me—shield everyone here.”
-You really put me in a bind.
Irritated by her constant restrictions, Arthur snapped.
“Just contract with me!”
-True, but your mana hasn’t reached the threshold yet…!
Parsia’s eyes flickered.
Arthur’s aura surged dramatically, infused with Tyrant’s Might.
Far stronger than she knew.
This power could handle her.
-You’ve made impressive progress in such a short time.
Arthur locked eyes with Parsia, golden and blood-red aura blazing in his gaze.
“I, Arthur Julius, command the wind spirit Parsia. Lend me your power.”
At his resolute words, Parsia bowed without hesitation and spoke gravely.
-Wind spirits, answer my call.